In the second quarter, as in the first, the bulk of Unilever's growth came from selling more products, rather than getting higher prices for them. For the first half, volume rose 2.2% while pricing edged up only 0.2%.

But increases have already gone through in places like Argentina and Brazil, which should help results in the second half of the year, along with a dwindling impact from an Indian tax change.

Unilever is in the process of collapsing its dual-headed Anglo-Dutch structure, in favour of a single entity with its main headquarters in the Netherlands.

The move has been seen as a blow to Britain as it tries to negotiate terms of Brexit.

Shareholders will vote on the move on 25 and 26 October.

Some UK shareholders have expressed concern about being forced selling of shares that may result from the company dropping out of the FTSE 100 index.

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